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Nightmare in the East (1415 - 1425)
In 1415 Venice is the undisputed ruler of Eastern Mediterranean and is growing rich quickly. The Venetian trade center is almost 50% larger than any other in the known world. In 1419 the islands in the Aegean are integrated directly into Venetian territories, but otherwise the five years between 1415 and 1420 are dominated by a trade dispute between Castille and Aragon in which Aragon and France soundly defeat Castille and make Aragon the leading Iberian power.
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In May of 1421 however Milan invades Savoy and through a complicated web of alliances Venice enters the war. With Savoy, Venice, and Austria all fighting together there are ambitious goals of subjugating Milan altogether, but in November Venice receives bad news - the Mamluks and Ottomans have chosen this time to attack Constantinople.
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In early 1422 Venice agrees to a peace deal with Milan in return for the border fortress of Brescia in order to focus on the war against the Ottomans. That war, however, does not go well. In late January the Venetian fleet is all but obliterated by the combined forces of Turkey and Egypt, in May Venetian forces are routed in Salonica, and in September of 1422 the last of the Venetian forces in Greece surrender. Constantinople and Athens fall before the end of the year and Venice is forced to sign a peace treaty that essentially ends its dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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All former Byzantine lands pass to the Ottoman Empire. Mamluks secure Cyprus (a former Venetian ally) and the Ottomans annex Albania while Montenegro is incorporated into Serbia (an Ottoman vassal). Epirus becomes a free state once again, although it remains under Venetian suzerainty. By 1425 Venice has begun to slowly rebuild its ruined fleet and army but the threat of another war with the Ottomans looms large.
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OOC: This is one of the quickest losses I've suffered lately. The Muslims came out of nowhere to smack me around really good. Need to regroup.
In 1415 Venice is the undisputed ruler of Eastern Mediterranean and is growing rich quickly. The Venetian trade center is almost 50% larger than any other in the known world. In 1419 the islands in the Aegean are integrated directly into Venetian territories, but otherwise the five years between 1415 and 1420 are dominated by a trade dispute between Castille and Aragon in which Aragon and France soundly defeat Castille and make Aragon the leading Iberian power.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
In May of 1421 however Milan invades Savoy and through a complicated web of alliances Venice enters the war. With Savoy, Venice, and Austria all fighting together there are ambitious goals of subjugating Milan altogether, but in November Venice receives bad news - the Mamluks and Ottomans have chosen this time to attack Constantinople.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
In early 1422 Venice agrees to a peace deal with Milan in return for the border fortress of Brescia in order to focus on the war against the Ottomans. That war, however, does not go well. In late January the Venetian fleet is all but obliterated by the combined forces of Turkey and Egypt, in May Venetian forces are routed in Salonica, and in September of 1422 the last of the Venetian forces in Greece surrender. Constantinople and Athens fall before the end of the year and Venice is forced to sign a peace treaty that essentially ends its dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
All former Byzantine lands pass to the Ottoman Empire. Mamluks secure Cyprus (a former Venetian ally) and the Ottomans annex Albania while Montenegro is incorporated into Serbia (an Ottoman vassal). Epirus becomes a free state once again, although it remains under Venetian suzerainty. By 1425 Venice has begun to slowly rebuild its ruined fleet and army but the threat of another war with the Ottomans looms large.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
OOC: This is one of the quickest losses I've suffered lately. The Muslims came out of nowhere to smack me around really good. Need to regroup.
If at First You don't Succeed, Try Again (1425 - 1439)
In 1426 Byzantine refugees begin to flow into Venice. In the East only southern Greece remains free from Ottoman control. Austria and Venice strengthen their alliance and begin preparing for a war against Aquileia. The preparations take until 1429. In October of 1429 Austria and Venice decide that it is time to strike.
Venice passes the Naval Recruiting Act and presses a lot of men into the navy. The initial stages of the campaign look good as Venice routs the forces of Aquileia and destroys the entire Aquileian army. In November Castille joins the war against Austria and Venice, but Iberian involvement is limited to a minor naval engagement with Venice.
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Unfortunately early 1430 goes poorly for Venice and Austria. Bohemian forces rout the Austrian army and assault Vienna, which they gain in March. In April Austria officially bows out of the war, releasing Tyrol is a free nation and pledging to not interfere with the politics of Salzburg. The Castillian fleet wins a battle against the Venetian one during the same month and by July an Iberian force lays siege to Venice. Things look grim.
In a daring move Doge Domenico Cornaro leads his army back to Venice to strike at the Iberians. The Venetians are victorious and the entire ten thousand man army surrenders to the Doge after the Venetian fleet cuts off any chance for its retreat. The Doge then defeats a smaller Bohemian army in Aquileia and the Greek army gains control over Achaea. These victories are enough for Venice to sign a peace treaty in January of 1431 in which the Republic does not give up anything to the Bohemians.
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With Austria knocked down to size Venice needs new allies - someone who can stand up to Bohemia. A search produces no such candidates as strong countries wish to have nothing to do with Venice while weak ones that would agree to an alliance likely being more of a hassle than a help. In this light Venice begins to raise a second large army and to increase its fleet having decided that the Republic itself will become a major military power.
It is not until April of 1435 though that the Republic again finds itself at war. Just days after the election of Doge Marco Antonio Polani Austria invades Aquileia unexpectedly. Venice joins the war eagerly as Bohemia appears distracted with a war against France. By May Austrian forces have already overrun northern Aquileia and by the end of the year Venice seizes all of the southern parts. By the end of January 1436 Austria annexes Tyrol and Aquileia is divided between Austria and Venice.
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There is barely a rest for the Republic's military though, as in July of 1436 Sicily invades Naples with the goal of finishing the conquest of the southern Italian city. Venice finds itself leading a war against Sicily, Aragon, and its former ally of Switzerland. Fighting on the Italian side are Austria, Savoy, and, surprisingly, Milan.
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In August the Venetian fleet sinks four ships from Aragon just off the coast of Sicily and in January of 1437 Aragon requests a peace treaty which Venice gladly grants. Nine days later Switzerland follows with the same request and Sicily finds itself fighting alone against the Venetian alliance.
Doge Marco Antonio Polani dies in June of 1437 during an assault on Palermo and Doge Domenico Cornaro succeeds him. Unfortunately by July the Sicilians force the city of Naples to surrender to them and the remnants of the army of Naples join with the Sicilian force against Venice. With the Venetian fleet controlling the Straits of Messina the Sicilians cannot cross into Sicily, but two Venetian assaults into Palermo are likewise repelled. In August of 1438 Venice and Sicily agree to a peace treaty. Naples once again becomes an independent city, Malta is ceded to Venice, and Sicily retains control over all of southern Italy.
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Not even ten days pass until Austria and Savoy call on the Venetian forces to help in a war against Milan, Burgundy, Provence, and Bavaria. Venetian forces help with the siege of Milan and the Doge gladly agrees to a peace treaty with Milan and its allies in February of 1439, bringing to an end 3 years of uninterrupted war.
In 1426 Byzantine refugees begin to flow into Venice. In the East only southern Greece remains free from Ottoman control. Austria and Venice strengthen their alliance and begin preparing for a war against Aquileia. The preparations take until 1429. In October of 1429 Austria and Venice decide that it is time to strike.
Venice passes the Naval Recruiting Act and presses a lot of men into the navy. The initial stages of the campaign look good as Venice routs the forces of Aquileia and destroys the entire Aquileian army. In November Castille joins the war against Austria and Venice, but Iberian involvement is limited to a minor naval engagement with Venice.
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Unfortunately early 1430 goes poorly for Venice and Austria. Bohemian forces rout the Austrian army and assault Vienna, which they gain in March. In April Austria officially bows out of the war, releasing Tyrol is a free nation and pledging to not interfere with the politics of Salzburg. The Castillian fleet wins a battle against the Venetian one during the same month and by July an Iberian force lays siege to Venice. Things look grim.
In a daring move Doge Domenico Cornaro leads his army back to Venice to strike at the Iberians. The Venetians are victorious and the entire ten thousand man army surrenders to the Doge after the Venetian fleet cuts off any chance for its retreat. The Doge then defeats a smaller Bohemian army in Aquileia and the Greek army gains control over Achaea. These victories are enough for Venice to sign a peace treaty in January of 1431 in which the Republic does not give up anything to the Bohemians.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
With Austria knocked down to size Venice needs new allies - someone who can stand up to Bohemia. A search produces no such candidates as strong countries wish to have nothing to do with Venice while weak ones that would agree to an alliance likely being more of a hassle than a help. In this light Venice begins to raise a second large army and to increase its fleet having decided that the Republic itself will become a major military power.
It is not until April of 1435 though that the Republic again finds itself at war. Just days after the election of Doge Marco Antonio Polani Austria invades Aquileia unexpectedly. Venice joins the war eagerly as Bohemia appears distracted with a war against France. By May Austrian forces have already overrun northern Aquileia and by the end of the year Venice seizes all of the southern parts. By the end of January 1436 Austria annexes Tyrol and Aquileia is divided between Austria and Venice.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
There is barely a rest for the Republic's military though, as in July of 1436 Sicily invades Naples with the goal of finishing the conquest of the southern Italian city. Venice finds itself leading a war against Sicily, Aragon, and its former ally of Switzerland. Fighting on the Italian side are Austria, Savoy, and, surprisingly, Milan.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
In August the Venetian fleet sinks four ships from Aragon just off the coast of Sicily and in January of 1437 Aragon requests a peace treaty which Venice gladly grants. Nine days later Switzerland follows with the same request and Sicily finds itself fighting alone against the Venetian alliance.
Doge Marco Antonio Polani dies in June of 1437 during an assault on Palermo and Doge Domenico Cornaro succeeds him. Unfortunately by July the Sicilians force the city of Naples to surrender to them and the remnants of the army of Naples join with the Sicilian force against Venice. With the Venetian fleet controlling the Straits of Messina the Sicilians cannot cross into Sicily, but two Venetian assaults into Palermo are likewise repelled. In August of 1438 Venice and Sicily agree to a peace treaty. Naples once again becomes an independent city, Malta is ceded to Venice, and Sicily retains control over all of southern Italy.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Not even ten days pass until Austria and Savoy call on the Venetian forces to help in a war against Milan, Burgundy, Provence, and Bavaria. Venetian forces help with the siege of Milan and the Doge gladly agrees to a peace treaty with Milan and its allies in February of 1439, bringing to an end 3 years of uninterrupted war.
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